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Community First Inc

EIN 47-1389123 · Hilo, HI

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak38 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COMMUNITY FIRST SERVES AS A NEUTRAL FORUM FOR THE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AND AS A CATALYST FOR SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND LOWER MEDICAL COST ON HAWAII ISLAND BASED ON COMMUNITY GOOD.

Income
$679,172
Spending
$793,870
Spent on programs
56%
Reserves
2.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 68%
Employees
5
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$132,500, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 53% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    56% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $135,852 spent. HEALTHCARE CONFERENCE (PROGRAM 18) - COMMUNITY FIRST HOSTED ITS 2ND ANNUAL HAWAII ISLAND HEALTHCARE CONFERENCE, ADVANCING CONVERSATIONS ON HEALTHCARE ACCESS AND EQUITY THAT REQUIRE LONG-TERM, CROSS-SECTOR COLLABORATION. MORE THAN 320 ATTENDEES-INCLUDING HEALTHCARE AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONALS, POLICYMAKERS, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS-PARTICIPATED IN THE EVENT. KEYNOTE SPEAKERS FEATURED MAYOR MITCH ROTH, REPRESENTATIVE JILL TOKUDA, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SYLVIA LUKE, NATIONAL HEALTHCARE FINANCE EXPERT ERIC SHELL, AND OTHERS. BREAKOUT SESSIONS COVERED TOPICS SUCH AS TRANSFORMING HEALTHCARE IN HAWAII, STRENGTHENING THE HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE, EXPANDING TELEHEALTH, ADDRESSING THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IN HAWAII COUNTY, AND RECOGNIZING THE VITAL ROLE OF PRIVATE PRACTICE PROVIDERS.
  2. $74,929 spent. KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (PROGRAM 13) - KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (KYN) BEGAN IN 2021 AND RETURNED IN 2024 TO CONTINUE EDUCATING HAWAII ISLAND COMMUNITIES ABOUT THE RISKS OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. THROUGH OUTREACH EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY, WITH EMPLOYERS, AND IN SCHOOLS, WE PROVIDE FREE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND DISTRIBUTE BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORS AT NO COST. THESE EFFORTS ARE MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH RETIRED NURSES, MEMBERS OF THE HAWAII FIRE DEPARTMENT, STUDENTS FROM THE DANIEL K. INOUYE COLLEGE OF PHARMACY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT HILO, AND HAWAII COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
  3. $24,066 spent. KULEANA HEALTH CONNECT (PROGRAM 19) - THIS PROJECT WAS INSPIRED BY THE NEED FOR GREATER ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND SOCIAL SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITIES. USING A COLLABORATIVE, USER-CENTERED DESIGN PROCESS, WE DEVELOPED A RESPONSIVE ONLINE MAP THAT CONNECTS INDIVIDUALS WITH VITAL RESOURCES ACROSS HAWAII ISLAND. OFFERED FREE TO THE PUBLIC, THIS DIRECTORY ALLOWS USERS TO SEARCH FOR SERVICES BY LOCATION AND CATEGORY. THE PLATFORM ALSO SUPPORTS PATIENT NAVIGATION, REFERRALS, CARE COORDINATION, AND BROADER COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2015.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Community Firm (Denver, CO), EIN 84-4867019. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.